Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians Also Extracts from Diodorus Siculus, Josephus, and Tacitus, Relating to the Jews, Together with an Appendix

Siculus Diodorus

Best known for a sweeping history of the ancient world, this Sicilian Greek writer tried to gather myths, wars, and political change into one enormous work. Even in incomplete form, his history remains a key source for many lost periods of antiquity.

Flavius Josephus

b. 37

A first-century Jewish historian, soldier, and priest, he left some of the most important surviving accounts of ancient Judea and the Roman destruction of Jerusalem. His works remain central to readers interested in Jewish history, the early Roman Empire, and the world around the New Testament.

Emperor of Rome Julian

331–363

A philosopher-emperor with a dramatic, short reign, he is remembered for trying to restore traditional Roman religion while leading the empire through war and political change. His life has fascinated historians because it mixes power, learning, and controversy in equal measure.

Porphyry

A key figure in late ancient philosophy, he helped preserve and shape the legacy of Plotinus while writing on logic, religion, and the good life. His ideas traveled far beyond his own era, influencing both medieval logic and later debates about pagan and Christian thought.

Cornelius Tacitus

56–117

A sharp-eyed Roman senator and historian, his books turn imperial politics into gripping, often unsettling drama. His surviving works remain some of the most important sources for the early Roman Empire.